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Paula Abdul Celebrates Bat Mitzvah in Israel

American pop culture icon Paula Abdul celebrated her bat mitzvah the first weekend in November in the northern Israeli city of Safed, ancient birthplace of the Kabbalah.

Abdul spent nine days touring the country, visiting Jerusalem, the Galilee, the Dead Sea and Tel Aviv. During her stay in the capital, she was received by President Shimon Peres and met with Minister of Tourism Dr. Uzi Landau.

The dancer, singer and former American Idol judge said that "this visit has been the most magnificent trip I’ve ever taken ... magical and emotional."

"Holding the ceremony in the tranquil and historic atmosphere of the picturesque 15thcentury Abuhav Synagogue in Safed," said Haim Gutin, Israel Tourism Commissioner for North and South America, "held special significance for Ms. Abdul — for Safed is one of the four holy cities of Judaism, along with Jerusalem, Tiberias and Hebron.’"